Improvements in ticket feeding apparatus for hand stapling machines



Nov. 6, 1962 J. G. MACKECHNIE 6 IMPROVEMENTS IN TICKET FEEDING APPARATUS FOR HAND STAPLING MACHINES Filed April 3, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR m5 6. MAC/(lCHA/E ATTORNEYS Nov. 6, 1962 J. G. MACKECHNIE IMPROVEMENTS IN TICKET FEEDING APPARATUS FOR HAND STAPLING MACHINES Filed April 3, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JAMLS a. MACKlCHN/E BY 4 72m! ATTORNEYfi Nov. 6, 1962 J. G. MACKECHNIE 3,061,836

IMPROVEMENTS IN TICKET FEEDING APPARATUS FOR HAND STAPLING MACHINES Filed April 3. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 H0 /28 F57 A26 mmvron. JAMES a. MAC/(ECHNIE BY 4 71m! ATTORNEYS 3,0 1,836 EERQVEMENTS m TIQKET FEEDING APPARA- TUS FQR HAND STAPLING MAQHE ES James G. Mackeehnie, 1 Overioak Wa Winchester, Mass. Filed Apr. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 109,207 2 Ciaims. (Cl. 1-49) This invention relates to hand stapling machines of the so-called plier type in which driver and clincher arm assemblies are relatively movable to drive and clinch a staple to an article or articles presented thereto.

In my earlier filed application, Serial No. 856,294, filed November 30, 1959, now Patent No. 2,996,720, issued August 21, 1961, is disclosed a tag or ticket feeding and folding mechanism or attachment especially adapted for incorporation in a plier type hand stapler. The mechanism is operable to feed, fold and insert the endmost ticket of a ticket strip between the driver and clincher arms of the stapler for afiixing the ticket to an article. The mechanism further operates so that when the stapling operation is carried out, the folded ticket is automatically severed from the end of the strip and the next succeeding ticket of the strip is advanced into position for the next stapling operation.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved device for holding a ticket strip supply for use with ticket folding and stapling apparatus such as disclosed in my earlier filed application, referred to above.

The particular novelty of the invention and the above and other objects and advantages of the same will be apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a hand stapler having the mechanism of the present invention mounted thereon, the strip of tickets not being shown;

FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale is a front elevational view of the device, with parts cut away, as viewed from the left of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale with parts shown in section;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a pair of tickets from a roll strip such as may be used in the device of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are views similar to that of FIG. 3 showing various stages of operation of the device in stapling a ticket to a fiat article;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of line VIIIVIII of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a ticket stapled to an article;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a section taken along line XII-XII of FIG. 10, and

FIG. 13 is a section taken along line XIII-XIII of FIG. 11.

Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a commercial form of hand stapler with the device of this present invention mounted on it. The stapler by itself is a well known piece of equipment and will be recognized in the trade as a Bostitch plier-type stapler identified under model designation P6 Plier. Essentially the stapler unit comprises a driver arm assembly indicated at 10; a clincher arm assembly at 12 (pivoted relative to the driver arm at 14); a magazine assembly at 16 (also pivoted at 14 relative to the driver arm and clincher arm); and an operating lever at 18. Lever 18 is pivoted intermediate its ends at 2% to the clincher arm and at its inner end is hooked over a pin at 22 fixed in the driver arm. A magazine cover 3,61,836 Fatented Nov. 6, 1962 spring is at 24 and an elevating spring is at 26. Spring 26 is caught at one end on the lever pivot pin at 20 with a midsection thereof resting on the clincher arm and bearing at its other end against the underside of the magazine. The end of the magazine sliding cover is seen at 28 and as will be recognized is manipulated in known fashion to insert a supply of staples in the magazine.

As the stapler is grasped in the hand after the manner of a pair of pliers, the lever can be raised to bring the clincher arm, and an anvil (not shown) at the end 30 of the arm, toward the magazine assembly. The clincher arm then forces the magazine upwardly against a driver (not shown) at the end of arm 10 to drive a staple from the magazine through the material of an article placed over the end 30 and in the conventional fashion clinches the staple on the anvil. The springs 24 and 26 serve to return the parts to the position of FIG. 1 whereupon an article can be removed with the staple fixed to it.

The invention as shown in the drawings has been incorporated in the assembly of a plier type stapler as generally described above. Briefly, there is added to the stapler a saddle type bracket 31, fixed by screws 32 to the driver arm and on which is carried a ticket guiding and feeding channel generally designated by numeral 34, and a feeding and folding arm 36 pivoted on a pivot screw 32 also fixing bracket 31 to the driver arm 10; a ticket roll housing 38 having an exit at 49 for a strip of tickets thereon to feed through to channel 34, the casing 38 being removably mounted on a bracket 42 fixed in any suitable manner (not shown) to the driver arm at the far side of FIG. 1; and a ticket advancing arm 44 fixed at 46 (see FIG. 3) to the clincher arm, the arm 44 extending upwardly to cooperate with the channel 34 to advance the strip of tickets therein as will be later described.

Preferably the tickets adapted for use in the device are as shown by FIG. 4. In roll form the strip of tickets is mounted on the spindle of the casing 38 with the free end of the roll passing through the exit 40 above the guide channel 34. The line of separation between each ticket 5% of the roll is a scored or weakened transverse line 52 so that the endmost free end ticket may be readily severed from the strip. Each ticket is also provided with a central aperture or hole 54 for ticket advancing purposes and laterally at each edge of a hole 54 are aligned weakened lines 56 defining a mid fold line for embracing the edge of a fiat article or encircling an article of a linear character such as wire, etc.

The device as generally described operates as follows: The strip of tickets at the beginning of a stapling operation extends from the housing 38 through the channel 34 (FIG. 5) to position the hole 54 of an endmost ticket in a predetermined position opposite the spacing between the driver and clincher arm assemblies. The endmost ticket is caught along lines 56 by the arm 36, a projection 112 of the arm 36 fitting into the hole 54. The arm 36 is then swung manually between the arms of the staple carrying the partially folded ticket therebetween, as shown in FIG. 6. At the same time the arm pulls a portion of the ticket strip downwardly from the channel to a position in which the trailing tear line 52 of the endmost ticket is located, slightly below edge 62 of the channel. When released, the arm 36 is returned by its spring 58 to its FIG. 5 position, the ticket remaining between the stapler arm in substantially the same relative position shown in FIG. 6. The lines 56 are scored so that once creased, a ticket will remain in its creased condition. It might also be noted that the outer end of the creased ticket roll lies against the tip of clincher arm 12 and a slight frictional drag here assists in keeping the creased ticket in the FIG. 6 position. On return of the arm 36, the operator then merely places the edge of a garment or other article 3 to be tagged between the ticket halves and operates the stapler in conventional manner.

As shown by FIG. 7, the edge of an article 60 which has been inserted between the arms is thus tagged as the driver and clincher arms are brought together. Relative movement between the clincher and driver arms from the position of FIG. 6 to the position of FIG. 7 causes the following interaction of the various elements of the I device.

As for severing the end ticket, the clincher arm 12 first moves toward the driver arm 10 until the halves of the partially folded end ticket are pressed flatly on opposite surfaces at the edge of the article 66. At this stage the clincher 12 has moved towards the driver arm 10 sufficiently to bear against the magazine 16 and would be substantially in the relative position shown by full lines in FIG. 7. As the ticket is being applied to an article, travel of the stapler arms from the dotted to the full line position of FIG. 7 causes the ticket strip to be reversibly folded over the edge 62 of the guide channel. Simultaneously upward movement of the clincher arm 12. moves the arm 44 upwardly. A projection 64 carried by arm 44 frictionally engages the ticket strip and holds or restrains the strip against downward movement. The upward movement of the stapler arms and restraining action of projection 64 thus cause the ticket strip to be severed, or pulled apart, along the separation line 52, which as described above, is located approximately at the edge 62 of the guide channel. The ticket size is related to the parts of the device so that doubling back of the strip over the edge 62 occurs approximately at the weakened transverse separation line 52 of a ticket.

As the stapled ticket is torn from the strip the next succeeding endmost ticket is positioned with its leading edge at the exit end of the guide channel as shown in FIG. 7. However, the projection 64 has been carried by arm 44 from the position shown in FIG. 6 upwardly to the position shown by FIG. 7 where the projection 64 engages the hole 54 of the ticket above the now endmost ticket of the strip. As the stapler arms are allowed to return to the FIG. position, the projection 64 advances the ticket strip to bring the endmost ticket into position for folding over the arm 36, as described above and initiating a succeeding stapling operation.

It will also be noted after the folding arm has inserted the endmost ticket in partially folded condition between the arms, a ticket holding projection 66 engages a ticket hole 54 and prevents reverse upward movement of the strip as the moving projection 64 bears against the ticket in its upward travel from the position of FIG. 6 to that of FIG. 7. The frictional rubbing movement of projection 64 against the back of the ticket, which holds the strip during the severing operation, might otherwise cause a reverse travel of the strip such that the projection 64 would fail to engage a ticket hole for subsequently advancing the strip.

In broad outline the tickets 50 of the strip supply may thus be successively stapled at the edges of a series of articles. The tickets may bear any desired indicia as consecutive numbering and varying colors to accommodate any system of identification which might be used. The various elements of the structure will now be described in detail.

The ticket strip guide means designated generally by the numeral 34 is formed by a rear plate 70 and an overlying front plate 72 attached to it. Rear plate 70 is, in the construction shown, an integral part of the bracket 31, attachment arm plates lying at each side of the driver arm assembly 10, these arms being directed rearwardly at each side of the plate 70 and fixed by the mounting screws 32. In the upper portion of plate 70 which stands upwardly of the driver arm, a recessed ticket groove 74 is formed (FIG. 8) to receive the ticket strip (see also FIG. 2) and guide the same. Centrally of the groove is an elongated slot 76 extending substantially from the top 4 v to the bottom of the upper extension of the plate for receiving the advancing hook or projection 64.

Against the raised edges 78 at the sides of the recessed plate portion the front plate 72 is fastened as by the screws 80 to overlie both the upper and lower portions of the rear plate. The front plate 72 is also provided with a central longitudinal slot 82, registered with the slot 76 for receiving book 64 as it fits through ticket holes 54. Below slot 82 is a leaf spring 84 riveted centrally to the plate 72 at its upper end and at its lower end has the check projection 66 fixed to it and extending through an opening 86 of plate 72 for contact with tickets passing through the guide. As seen in FIG. 3, the lower section of the rear plate is formed with an apron 88 to insure engagement of the projection 66 with the ticket hole.

It will be further noted that the lower attaching screws 83 are provided with spacers 96 (FIG. 3) for greater separation of the plates at the bottom end of the upper plate portions for cooperation with the advancing projection or hook 6d.

The advancing book 64 is formed as a lug on a sliding piece 92 (FIGS. 3 and 7) having a. reduced shoulder at 4 to slide up and down in the slot 76. A stem of piece 92 extends through the inturned end 45 of advancing arm 44. A spring 6 around the stem holds the slide 92 yieldingly pressed rearwardly against the recessed inner surface 74, the spring being seated against the end 45 and a cap $8 threaded on the stem. Thus a proper sliding fit of the slide $2 during its travel back and forth in the slot is assured and adjustment of spring tension may be had to compensate for any chance frictional binding of the slide 92 or inturned end 45 against the plate surfaces.

As will be seen from FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, the hook 64 engages the lower edge of a ticket hole 54 while the longitudinal half portions laterally thereof are flexed forwardly by the underlying buttons located as at 100 in the lower section of the recessed groove 74 (see also FIG. 6). The flexing action of the buttons 100 on the ticket imparts a stiifness to the ticket in the area of the hook engagement with the ticket hole. Thus when the hook engages the hole at the top of its stroke, as in FIG. 7, and advances the strip downwardly to the position of FIG. 5, the stiffness imparted to the ticket prevents any chance disengagement of the hook from the hole 54.

It will be realized that the greater separation of the plates 7! and 72 by spacers at the bottom of the recessed portion 74 is provided to enable the strip to advance (on manipulation of the rocker arm 36) and be drawn over the hook during the feeding operation of inserting the partially folded end ticket between the driver and clincher (FIG. 5 to FIG. 6). The increased spacing between the plates at this point enables the ticket to be deflected outwardly by the beveled upper surface of the projecting hook 64 as the latter is drawn over it. Moreover, as the hook 64 moves upwardly, it extends further into the slot 82 and presses against the ticket strip to hold it against downward movement as the endmost ticket is torn olf by the upward movement of the stapler arms. As the ticket is severed, the projection 64 extends through a hole 54 in the ticket strip, the outer end of the projection being received by the slot 82. Subsequent downward movement of the book 64 advances the ticket strip as described above.

Insofar as the stationary projection 66 is concerned, it will readily be seen from FIG. 5 that the mounting of this projection on leaf spring 84 means that forward movement of the ticket strip may readily push the projection out of the way and that the :leaf spring may be of a strength to merely return the projection toward the apron 88 so as to engage a hole 54 for holding purposes only. Thus, projection 66 causes no excessive drag or rubbing action on the ticket.

The feeding and folding rocker 36 is provided with arms straddling the driver arm and pivoted on the screws 32' as best seen in FIG. 2. A folding bar 110 connects the arms adjacent the outer end of the rocker and centrally of the bar is the projection 57 for engaging the hole of the endmost ticket to pull the strip downwardly from the channel While inserting the endmost ticket between the stapler arms as shown in FIG. 6. Bridged across the top of the arms is a stop bar 114 which as best seen in FIG. 6 serves to contact the end face at 30 of the clincher arm to limit the travel of the rocker and position the partially folded end ticket in the proper relationship between the stapler arms.

The amount of clearance necessary between the end 30 and the edge 62 is sufficient to easily accommodate the material of an article during a stapling operation without damage to the article. It will be realized that articles with materials of varying thicknesses will be stapled when using the device for tagging garments for identification purposes. Accordingly, the amount of clearance will normally be that sufiicient to properly handle the thickest material which might be presented to the device. If by chance the end ticket is not auto matically completely severed, the rocker '36 can be actuated to bring the stop bar 114 down against the end of the clincher arm (as in FIG. 6 and with the edge of the stapled article extending below the end 30). The lower edge of the bar 114 provides a cutting edge for tearing of the stapled ticket while at the same time the rocker 36 feeds the next ticket between the stapler arms.

For tagging articles such as wire, plant stems, and other articles of a similarly small diameter, the clincher arm may furthermore be modified by providing a slight depression transversely of the arm, as shown at 120 in the various views. It will be appreciated that clearance is thus provided for a proper stapling operation and that the ticket will then be wrapped around this type of article. The depression may, of course, be of various dimensions to accommodate different articles for tagging and may be furthermore selectively located to provide a tight or loose wrap of the identifying ticket.

Illustrated in FIGS. -13 is the preferred form of apparatus embodying the invention. The apparatus shown comprises an integral magazine 118 removably mounted on a stapler 120 of the type described above. The magazine 118 comprises a rotatable spool 122 on which is wound a roll of tickets in strip form. The spool 122 has a radically projecting key 123 which is provided to engage a mating keyway in a driving spindle for reloading the magazine. Side walls 124 and 126 and a peripheral wall 128 provide a housing for securely holding the ticket roll and protecting the tickets against damage, soiling and the like. A slot 130' in the peripheral wall enables reeling and unreeling of the ticket strip 132 from the spool. A base 136 extends from the lower surface of the magazine for mounting on the stapler and includes a projection which fits into the stapler loading slot as at 138. A stud 140 extends from the side wall 124 of the magazine and includes a notch for receiving a loop on the end of a spring 142 which releasably holds the magazine in place on the stapler for quick and easy mounting and removal of the magazine on the stapler.

Extending tangentially from the magazine is a channel 144 for guiding the ticket strip to a position adjacent the stapler arm or jaw 12 and magazine 16. The channel is defined by an outer wall 150 (FIG. 11) and inner Wall 152. The outer wall extends downwardly of the lower end of the channel providing an extension or tongue 154. On the inner surface of the extension 154 is a stationary projection 155 for engaging holes in the ticket strip after the manner of projection 66 of the previously described structure. A slot 156 at the upper end of the channel is provided for receiving the free end of the ticket strip drawn from the spool through the slot 130 in the peripheral wall of the magazine.

The inner wall 152 of the channel is provided with a slot 158 opening at the lower end of the channel and providing means for receiving and accommodating the reciprocating movement of the slide 92 (FIGS. 11 and 12) which is driven by the movement of the stapler arm 12 and arm 4-4 in the manner previously described above. The construction and operation of the slide 92 is generally the same as the slide 92 shown in FIG. 8 and like reference numerals are used to designate similar parts. The channel includes grooves 159 for receiving the side edges of an upstanding plate 160 mounted on the stapler. The slide 92 extends through a slot 161 in the plate 160, this slot 161 being registered with the channel slot 158.

A recess 162 is provided in the outer wall of the channel in spaced opposed relation to the slots 158 and 161. The recess 162 is disposed and dimensioned to register with the holes 54 of the ticket strip and to receive the hook or lug 64 which extends from the face of the slide 92. The channel 144 is tapered from bottom to top, that is, the distance between the outer and inner walls decreases so the lug 64- extends into the recess 162 as the slide 92 travels upwardly in the channel. This is seen by the broken line position of the slide 92 in FIG. 11. The taper insures engagement of the lug 64 in holes 54 of the ticket strip so that the strip is automatically advanced by downward movement of the slide 92 in response to movement of arm 12. As described above, this arrangement automatically advances the free end of the strip to a position adjacent the ends of the stapler jaws for successive operation thereof. Projections or raised portions 163 of the wall 150, disposed on both sides of the recess 162, hold the ticket outwardly of the outer channel wall 150 to further insure engagement of the lug 64 with a ticket hole 54. As a result of the channel taper at its lower position the lug is sufficiently spaced from the outer wall to enable the ticket strip to be easily drawn over the beveled upper surface of the lug. Buttons 176 (FIG. 12) extend from the surface of the plate 160 on both sides of the lower position of the slide 92 and together with the beveled upper surface of the lug prevent the strip from catching or binding on the lug.

Also, because of the taper of the channel, the lug in its upward travel approaches the outer Wall portion of the recess 162 frictionally engaging the ticket strip. The frictional engagement as described above holds the ticket strip as the endmost ticket is stapled and severed from the strip. That is, the lug 64 holds the ticket against downward movement, while the jaws of the stapler pull the strip upwardly around the lower edge of the plate 160. r

The projection is disposed directly below the lower end of the recess for preventing upward movement of the strip during a stapling operation caused by the frictional engagement of the upwardly moving lug 64 against the surface of the ticket strip.

The plate 160 is secured to the frame of the stapler by means of screws 164- which extend through spaced opposed plate portions 166 fitted around the end of the stapler frame. The plate 161 extends upwardly of the frame and is dimensioned to fit within the grooves 159 of the channel 144. The lower end portion of the plate extends downwardly from the frame providing a member having a snubbing edge 168 disposed outwardly and slightly above the end of the stapler magazine 16. When the strip is folded around the edge 168 and the end ticket inserted between the stapler jaws, there is a tendency for the strip to be bowed outwardly. The extension 154 is concavely curved to insure that a ticket strip hole 54 receives the projection 155 when the end ticket is positioned between the stapler jaws by the folding arm 36.

The folding arm 36 is generally the same as shown in FIG. 1. The arm is pivotably mounted on the staple frame. A spring 170 having one end fitted on a screw 172 which extends from the arm 36, and the other end fitted on a screw 174 which extends from the plate 166, holds the arm in its retracted position, such as shown in FIG. ll. The screw 172 extends through the arm 36 sufiiciently to engage the edge of the staple frame, acting as a stop for the arm 36. In general, the folding arm operates in the same manner as arm 36, described with reference to FIG. 1.

After positioning the end" ticket between the stapler jaws and inserting the article to be tagged between the ticket halves, the stapling operation may be carried out as described above. As the jaw 12 moves upwardly to a position approximately such as shown in FIG. 7, the strip is reversibly folded around the snubbing edge of plate 160 and as described above, the end ticket is separated from the strip along the separation line 52 located approximately at the edge 168.

1. Ticket magazine for a ticket stapler and severing mechanism comprising a spool for housing a roll of tickets in strip form, means for removably attaching said magazine to said stapler, a tapered channel extending tangentially from said spool and integral therewith for guiding said ticket strip to a position adjacent the ends of the arms of said stapler, said channel including a slot opening through the inner wall thereof to receive a ticket feeding member movable in response to movement of one of said stapler arms, the outer wall of said channel being provided with a recess disposed in spaced opposed relation to said slot for receiving said ticket feeding member, said channel being tapered in cross section from bottom to top so that said feeding member Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1 extends into said recess in the upper portion of its travel for engagement with said ticket strip, and at its lower limit of travel said member being suificiently spaced from said outer wall to enable said strip to be withdrawn from said channel.

2. A magazine for a strip ticket supply and feeding mechanism of a stapler unit having an upstanding plate and projecting reciprocable means associated therewith to advance along the plate, during the stapling operation, a strip of tickets having longitudinally spaced holes for engagement by said reciprocable means so as to place the end ticket of the strip in position for a ticket engaging operation; said magazine comprising a housing for containing tickets in strip form, exit channel Walls extending from said housing and having means for receiving said plate with one of said walls defining therewith an enclosed guideway for the ticket strip, said one wall having a longitudinal recess in which said projecting means may be received and adjacent the end of said one wall a projection for engaging the edge of a hole in a ticket strip and preventing reverse motion thereof during the stapling operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 529,502 Livermore Nov. 20, 1894 2,438,712 Lindstrom Mar. 30, 1948 2,720,650 Braun Oct. 18, 1955 2,912,697 Westbrook Nov. 17, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 769,545 Great Britain Mar. 6, 1957 

